Plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming

Abstract

The present invention provides a plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming that, upon executing a hot press forming of a heated plate-shaped workpiece ( 16 ), positions the plate-shaped workpiece relative to a pair of press dies ( 10, 12, 14 ). The positioning structure includes (a) a first positioning opening ( 20 b ) and (b) a second positioning openings ( 22 a, 22 c ). The first positioning opening is arranged in a center part of the plate-shaped workpiece, and engages with a first positioning pin ( 22 b ) provided on one ( 12 ) of the pair of press dies to position the plate-shaped workpiece. The second positioning openings are arranged between the first positioning opening and a predetermined outer peripheral parts ( 16 a, 16 b ) of the plate-shaped workpiece, and are formed in an elongate shape that extends along a line connecting the first positioning opening and the predetermined outer peripheral part of the plate-shaped workpiece. The second positioning openings engage with a second positioning pins ( 22 a, 22 c ) provided on one ( 12 ) of the pair of press dies. Thus, the plate-shaped workpiece is positioned in a circumferential direction about the first positioning opening of the plate-shaped workpiece. Additionally, the plate-shaped workpiece can contractionally deform toward the first positioning opening upon executing the hot press forming of the heated plate-shaped workpiece.

1. A plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming that, upon executing a hot press forming of a heated plate-shaped workpiece, positions the plate-shaped workpiece relative to a pair of press dies approaching to and separating away from each other, the positioning structure comprising:
 a first positioning opening arranged in a geometrical center part of the plate-shaped workpiece, the first positioning opening engaging with a first positioning pin immovably fixed on one of the pair of press dies integrally therewith, to position the plate-shaped workpiece; and 
 a second positioning opening arranged between the first positioning opening and a predetermined outer peripheral part of the plate-shaped workpiece and is formed in an elongate shape that extends along a line connecting the first positioning opening and the predetermined outer peripheral part, the second positioning opening engaging with a second positioning pin immovably fixed on one or other of the pair of press dies integrally therewith, to position the plate-shaped workpiece in a circumferential direction about the first positioning opening, and to allow contractional deformation of the plate-shaped workpiece toward the first positioning opening upon executing the hot press forming. 
 
   
   
     2. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heated plate-shaped workpiece has an elongated shape, 
 the first positioning opening is arranged in a center part in a longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped workpiece, and engages with the first positioning pin to position the plate-shaped workpiece in the longitudinal direction thereof; and 
 the second positioning opening is arranged between the first positioning opening and a longitudinally distal end of the plate-shaped workpiece and is formed in an elongate shape extending in the longitudinal direction, the second positioning opening engaging with the second positioning pin to position the plate-shaped workpiece in a shorter direction, and allowing the contractional deformation in the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped workpiece toward the first positioning opening upon executing the hot press forming. 
 
   
   
     3. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming according to  claim 2 , wherein a pair of the second positioning openings are arranged at opposite positions in the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped workpiece with interposing the first positioning opening therebetween, and engage with a pair of the second positioning pins immovably fixed on one or other of the pair of press dies integrally therewith, to position the plate-shaped workpiece in the shorter direction, and to allow contractional deformation of the plate-shaped workpiece in the longitudinal direction toward the first positioning opening upon the hot press forming. 
   
   
     4. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming according to  claim 1 , wherein the first positioning opening has a true circular shape with a fixed diameter. 
   
   
     5. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming according to  claim 2 , wherein the first positioning opening has a true circular shape with a fixed diameter. 
   
   
     6. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming according to  claim 3 , wherein the first positioning opening has a true circular shape with a fixed diameter. 
   
   
     7. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the pair of press dies is a lower die, and other of the pair of press dies is an upper die. 
   
   
     8. The plate-shaped workpiece positioning structure for hot press forming according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the pair of press dies is a lower die, and other of the pair of press dies is an upper die. 
   
   
     9. An elongate plate-shaped workpiece subjected to a hot press forming in a heated state, by being sandwiched by a first press die on which a first positioning pin and a second positioning pin are immovably fixed integrally therewith, and a second press die on which a first pin escape hole for escaping the first positioning pin and a second pin escape hole for escaping the second positioning pin are provided and which relatively approaches to and is separated away from the first press die, the elongate plate-shaped workpiece comprising:
 a first positioning opening arranged in a geometrical center part of the elongate plate-shaped workpiece and engaging with the first positioning pin to position the plate-shaped workpiece; and 
 a second positioning opening arranged between the first positioning opening and a predetermined outer peripheral part of the elongate plate-shaped workpiece and formed in an elongate shape that extends along a line connecting the first positioning opening and the predetermined outer peripheral part, the second positioning opening engaging with the second positioning pin to position the plate-shaped workpiece in a circumferential direction about the first positioning opening, and to allow contractional deformation of the workpiece toward the first positioning opening upon executing the hot press forming in a heated state.